Amsterdam Museum to stage exhibition on fashion and identity

The Netherlands’ Amsterdam Museum has announced the opening of Fashion Statement, an exhibition on fashion and identity, which will be on view from 18 April til 8 September.

Design by Marga Weimans - Photo: Amsterdam MuseumThe exhibition will feature more than 75 historical costumes from the museum’s costume collection that were used by the wearer to either express themselves or convey a message. In addition to the historical pieces, six contemporary Dutch designers will feature three of their own designs next to the historical costumes to start a dialogue on how modern views differ or, conversely, are similar to the historical costumes and the statements they present.

The six contemporary designers who will present their work in the Fashion Statements exhibition are: Karim Adduchi; Marga Weimans; Bas Kosters; Studio Ninamounah; Patta and Art Comes First. Each designer will focus on one aspect of fashion, such as body shape, footwear or color.

“Fashion shows who someone is and how a person wants the outside world to perceive them. With clothing you can express your own opinion, criticize society or communicate your vision of the world,” the Amsterdam Museum said in a press release.

Fashion Statements is curated by guest curator Marian Duff, founder of MAFB, an international community for a new generation of creative talents. The Amsterdam-based company also operates the brands: fashion fest, OSCAM and Club MAFB.

Founded in 1926, Amsterdam Museum tells the story of the city of Amsterdam. Its collection, operated in collaboration with the Amsterdam City Archives, features more than 80,000 objects that includes paintings, drawings, photographs, textiles, ceramics and furniture from the Middle Ages, Dutch Golden Age and modern day Amsterdam.